What information do I need to apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thank you! I have most of that but I'm not sure about the exact dates for a couple of my previous jobs. Do they need to be exact or can I estimate?

Try to be as accurate as possible. Washington ESD will verify your employment history with employers, so close estimates are better than wild guesses.

Good point about the bank info. Should I set up a separate account for the unemployment payments or is using my regular checking account fine?

Your regular account is fine. Just make sure the routing and account numbers are correct - one wrong digit will delay your payments.

I made that mistake and it took 3 weeks to fix! Double check those numbers.

That sounds really helpful! I've been worried about making mistakes. How does that service work exactly?

Basically they help you get connected to an actual ESD agent instead of waiting on hold forever. The agent can review your application info with you before you submit and answer specific questions about your situation.

Never heard of that but honestly anything that helps avoid the phone hell with ESD sounds worth it

I did move about 6 months ago, how do I update my address with them?

You can update it online through your SecureAccess Washington account or call them. Better to do it before you file your claim.

Oh no, I did get 2 weeks severance. Does that mean I can't get unemployment right away?

You'll still be eligible, but there might be a waiting period. The ESD agent can explain exactly how it affects your claim timing.

Severance usually creates a disqualification for the weeks it covers, but every situation is different. Be honest about it on your application.

What's a waiting week? Nobody mentioned that to me.

its the first week of your claim where you dont get paid even if you qualify. everyone has to serve it so dont delay filing

Actually Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2021. You can get paid for your first eligible week now.

oh really? thats good news then, things must have changed since i filed

Good advice! About how long does the application take to complete?

If you have all your info ready, maybe 30-45 minutes. But if you're looking things up as you go, could be over an hour.

It was part of company-wide layoffs, about 200 people. Should I mention that specifically?

Yes, definitely. Mass layoffs sometimes qualify for additional assistance programs or expedited processing.

Seconding this recommendation. I used them when my claim got stuck in adjudication and they helped me get it resolved quickly.

Okay you've convinced me. I'll check out that video demo and see if it makes sense for my situation.

All my work has been here in Washington, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Good, that keeps things simple. Washington-only claims usually process much faster.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

It's 3 job search activities per week, but not all have to be applications. Can include networking, attending job fairs, skills training, etc.

You'll register with WorkSource Washington too. They have good resources for job searching and some activities through them count toward your requirements.

I worked for some startups early in my career that don't even exist anymore. What do I do about those?

just put what info you remember and explain in the comments section. esd deals with that situation all the time

Good point. Do they usually call during business hours or could it be anytime?

Usually business hours, but I've heard of people getting calls as late as 6 PM. Keep your phone handy the first few weeks after filing.

That seems to be the consensus here. I'll definitely look into it. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

Good luck with your claim! Most applications go through without issues if you're thorough with the information.

Should I print physical copies or are digital files okay?

Digital is fine, just make sure you back them up somewhere safe. I keep mine in a dedicated email folder.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I'm feeling much more prepared now after reading everyone's advice.

You've got this! The fact that you're asking questions ahead of time shows you're being smart about it.

Perfect summary, thank you! I'm going to gather all this information today and file my claim this weekend.

And remember, if you want to double-check everything with an ESD agent first, Claimyr is there to help you get through quickly. Good luck!

When do I file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day?

you can file starting sunday for the previous week. most people do it sunday morning to get it out of the way

The weekly claim filing window is Sunday through Saturday for the previous week. Don't wait until the last minute in case there are technical issues with the website.

Agreed! Everyone here has been so helpful. Much clearer than trying to parse through the official website.

That's what these forums are for - real people helping real people with practical advice. Glad we could help!